I would think the disc content would be the same to stop them having to issue two actual runs of DVDs.It would cost them extra to do a separate set of discs for no real benefit.That set obviously was designed with the passing impulse-buyer in mind to maximise sales rather than for the SFXB hardcore Fleeter.

For those interested, back onto the topic of clarity. Here are some quick comparisons with the English DVD and the French DVD - which makes the Japanese version even pale - this is remastered. I'm working currently with syncing and editing the episodes with the remastered footage (w/ some customized cleaned from the Japanese DVD)Can just about see every little hair on Lamia's head with the new clarityThe main difference is you lose a little bit off the top of the resolution and as it seems off the right side too. Not sure if it was a pan and scan or just the type of masters the French had to work with.I'll be doing a blog entry soon enough on the remasterign

I haven't even had a chance to play my copy of those DVDs back yet. That is impressive though. The series looks so much more visually interesting and appealing down the right side.Awesome - glad you twigged about the picture quality on those.It's like the Japanese one is slightly out of focus.

(Bladez636 @ Oct. 30 2012,05:21)QUOTEThe main difference is you lose a little bit off the top of the resolution and as it seems off the right side too. Not sure if it was a pan and scan or just the type of masters the French had to work with.Huh. That variation in the picture frame looks like two different scans of a film original. And there's no way a conversion from NTSC originals to PAL/SECAM could look as good as the originals, let alone better. Was Star Fleet originally shot on film rather than video? If so, and if the film still exists, a blu-ray version would be theoretically possible...

(felice @ Nov. 01 2012,06:49)QUOTE
(Bladez636 @ Oct. 30 2012,05:21)QUOTEThe main difference is you lose a little bit off the top of the resolution and as it seems off the right side too. Not sure if it was a pan and scan or just the type of masters the French had to work with.Huh. That variation in the picture frame looks like two different scans of a film original. And there's no way a conversion from NTSC originals to PAL/SECAM could look as good as the originals, let alone better. Was Star Fleet originally shot on film rather than video? If so, and if the film still exists, a blu-ray version would be theoretically possible...I doubt it still is....Well, the French PAL standard seems to have more cropped from it than the English PAL Standard - which is clearly in worst condition than either the original Japanese standard or the French one.Could be a scan - but I doubt that the footage has been untouched, it must have been remastered since I doubt that something in the 80's untouched would look that - If I didn't know it was made in 1980, I would be easily convinced if someone told me it was filmed in the last decade. Frankly the Japanese DVD is probably the best it gets untouched - whereas there it kinda has a dated feel to it. That film could still use some cleaning to be fair.

I think the french version looks good, but the contrast has been tweaked a fair bit, which saturates the image a little.There's no denying that it looks more detailed than the UK DVD, but they were stuffed way back in 1982 when the Japanese footage was converted to PAL. It's been cursed with a smeary video look ever since.For a dream blu-ray I'd still look to the Japanese film prints or negatives (If they even exist) as a source for a 4k remaster (Yeah, I know it'll never happen).

(Shane @ Nov. 01 2012,12:40)QUOTEI think the french version looks good, but the contrast has been tweaked a fair bit, which saturates the image a little.There's no denying that it looks more detailed than the UK DVD, but they were stuffed way back in 1982 when the Japanese footage was converted to PAL. It's been cursed with a smeary video look ever since.For a dream blu-ray I'd still look to the Japanese film prints or negatives (If they even exist) as a source for a 4k remaster (Yeah, I know it'll never happen).Either way, i'd still take that quality over the inconsistent quality given for the English masters.Smeary, not to mention how inconsistent the footage quality is - most episodes are rusty looking but ones like Episode 2, 7 or 12 have overtones of blue or green - some, like Episode 6, 13 or 19 are overtly rusty looking.A Blu-Ray would be extremely unlikely - if it could turn out as nicely as "Thunderbirds" did (just w/o the cropping) then that would be great to see. But it's just a pipe dream. I don't care much for Blu-Ray either way

(Crash Override @ Nov. 03 2012,01:59)QUOTEYep, the contrast is a little skewed but ... it's still *way* better.I think I'm gonna have to watch those discs.The one flaw is that the footage on the disc is still pretty grainy. When ripped to the computer to a format like AVI - it looks better, the grain is reduced drastically.Though considering I adjusted the settings so it wouldn't look muddled horribly when optimizing for DVD - it's still grainier than I had hoped even though its blended the grain somewhat in the characters faces and the blue space. I will be using noise reduction settings in Sony Vegas when editing that will hopefully help significantly. Hopefully I'd like it to be as clean as the Thunderbirds DVD (the blu-ray would be going a bit far)